With Vasher on IR, it’s Graham’s show now

For weeks, there were concerns among Bears fans and analysts that Nathan Vasher was a main problem in the breakdown of the pass defense. Many speculated that Corey Graham should have started ahead of him because Graham has played well in spurts this year.

Well, Bears fans will get to see what Graham can do as Vasher was placed on IR Saturday with a broken hand. Fullback Jason Davis was promoted from the practice squad to take Vasher’s place on the active roster.

Graham has been a much better tackler than Vasher due to his time spent on the special teams and his willingness to get physical, and it’s perhaps good timing this week as the Bears need good, able tacklers against the Vikings’ Adrian Peterson.

But it’s his ability to defend the pass that we’ll all have to keep an eye on. Graham can essentially make or break both his and Vasher’s future depending on how he plays in the final month of the season. If Graham plays exceptionally well, it could spell the end — or waning days, anyway — of Vasher’s tenure with the Bears. If he struggles, Vasher is sure to get a reprieve, but the Bears will know they need more help at the position.

It’s never a good thing when somebody gets hurt, but this is definitely an opportunistic moment for Bears management to see just what they have in Graham.

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